Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions |
3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mar. 31, 2019 |
Mar. 25, 2018 |
Mar. 31, 2019 |
Mar. 25, 2018 |
Sep. 30, 2018 |
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||||
| Segment reporting, factors used to identify entity's reportable segments | We are organized on the basis of products and services and have three reportable segments. | ||||
| Revenues | $ 4,982 | $ 5,220 | $ 9,824 | $ 11,255 | |
| EBT | 806 | 317 | 1,366 | 258 | |
| Total assets | 34,023 | 34,023 | $ 32,718 | ||
| Cost of revenues | (2,179) | (2,239) | (4,367) | (4,902) | |
| Research and development expense | (1,308) | (1,402) | (2,577) | (2,822) | |
| Selling, general and administrative expense | (573) | (869) | (1,100) | (1,641) | |
| Other expenses | 18 | (310) | (130) | (1,493) | |
| Interest expense | (162) | (179) | (317) | (350) | |
| Investment and other income, net | 28 | 96 | 33 | 211 | |
| Reconciling Items [Member] | |||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||||
| Revenues | 40 | 74 | 97 | 162 | |
| EBT | (427) | (1,140) | (1,063) | (3,020) | |
| Total assets | 27,277 | 27,277 | 26,926 | ||
| Cost of revenues | (104) | (111) | (218) | (228) | |
| Research and development expense | (190) | (271) | (337) | (551) | |
| Selling, general and administrative expense | (84) | (258) | (148) | (420) | |
| Other expenses | 18 | (310) | (130) | (1,493) | |
| Interest expense | (159) | (179) | (313) | (348) | |
| Investment and other income, net | 109 | 82 | 130 | 206 | |
| Reconciling Items [Member] | Cost of revenues [Member] | |||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||||
| Unallocated acquisition-related expenses | 99 | 102 | 202 | 208 | |
| Reconciling Items [Member] | Research and development expenses [Member] | |||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||||
| Unallocated acquisition-related expenses | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |
| Reconciling Items [Member] | Selling, general and administrative expenses [Member] | |||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||||
| Unallocated acquisition-related expenses | 7 | 214 | $ 14 | 290 | |
| Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member] | |||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||||
| Segment reporting, change in measurement methods | In fiscal 2018, all of the costs related to pre-commercial research and development of 5G technologies, of which we recorded $115 million and $216 million in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2018, respectively, were included in unallocated corporate research and development expenses. Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, all research and development costs associated with 5G technologies are included in segment results. | ||||
| Change of Segment Methodology [Member] | Reconciling Items [Member] | |||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||||
| Research and development expense | 115 | $ 216 | |||
| QCT [Member] | |||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||||
| Segment reporting, change in measurement methods | During the first quarter of fiscal 2019, we combined our Small Cells business, which sells products designed for the implementation of small cells to address the challenge of meeting the increased demand for mobile data, into our QCT segment. Revenues and operating results related to the Small Cells business were included in nonreportable segments through the end of fiscal 2018. Prior period segment information has not been adjusted to conform to the new segment presentation as such adjustments are insignificant. | ||||
| Revenues | 3,722 | 3,897 | $ 7,461 | 8,548 | |
| EBT | 542 | 608 | 1,140 | 1,563 | |
| Total assets | 2,948 | $ 2,948 | 3,041 | ||
| QTL [Member] | |||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||||
| Segment reporting, change in measurement methods | Additionally, beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, certain research and development costs associated with early research and development that were historically included in our QCT segment are allocated to our QTL segment. The net effect of these changes negatively impacted QTL’s EBT by $119 million and $241 million in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2019, respectively. QCT's EBT was positively impacted by $32 million and $44 million in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2019, respectively. | ||||
| Revenues | 1,122 | 1,219 | $ 2,141 | 2,485 | |
| EBT | 674 | 809 | 1,264 | 1,664 | |
| Total assets | 2,405 | 2,405 | 1,472 | ||
| QSI [Member] | |||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||||
| Revenues | 98 | 30 | 125 | 60 | |
| EBT | 17 | 40 | 25 | 51 | |
| Total assets | 1,393 | 1,393 | $ 1,279 | ||
| Other Segments [Member] | |||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||||
| Revenues | 40 | 74 | 97 | 162 | |
| EBT | (17) | $ (93) | (47) | $ (186) | |
| Impact to QTL Segment EBT due to Segment Methodology Change [Member] | |||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||||
| EBT | (119) | (241) | |||
| Impact to QCT Segment EBT due to Segment Methodology Change [Member] | |||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||||
| EBT | $ 32 | $ 44 | |||